At San Diego Comic-Con, Lucasfilm announced plans to flesh out the Star Wars characters from the prequel era of the movies. With Episode IX still a ways from starting production, the hope is to create stories that dive deeper into other parts of the Star Wars canon, similarly to the Star Wars Expanded Universe prior to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm.
According to The Verge, these new stories will come in the form of books and comics. The first two stories have already been planned out, one focusing on Padme’s transition from queen to senator and the other following Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s adventures as master and student.
E.K. Johnston will be writing Padme’s story, titled Queen’s Shadow. Johnston is no stranger to producing incredible stories about the female characters who populate the Star Wars canon, being responsible for 2016’s Ahsoka novel. Padme’s transition from Queen of Naboo to the planet’s senator occurred between the events of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. That gives Johnston plenty of room to work with. Even before the Expanded Universe became non-canon, that particular time period was barely covered. It’s also one of the few times in Star Wars where Padme isn’t directly connected to Anakin so it gives us a chance to see the galaxy without the presence of a Skywalker.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn’s story, Master and Apprentice, is being written by Claudia Gray. Gray is responsible for crafting some well-known Star Wars novels as well, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline. The panel wouldn’t go into detail about what particular story Master and Apprentice will cover, but considering Qui-Gon’s fate in The Phantom Menace, we know the novel will take place prior to Episode I.
Existing comics that already flesh out characters who are a part of later periods in the Star Wars timeline are getting continuations as well, including Thrawn: Alliances and Last Shot. New comics and art books were announced too, like Justina Ireland’s Lando’s Luck, Amy Ratcliffe’s Women of the Galaxy, Jody Houser’s Age of Republic, and Cavan Scott’s Tales from Vader’s Castle.
All of this news follows the incredible Star Wars announcement that The Clone Wars animated series is no longer canceled and being renewed for a seventh season. The new season will have 12 episodes and focus on Anakin, Obi-Wan, Rex, Cody, and Ahsoka’s efforts to defeat Darth Maul during the Siege of Mandalore.
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Coverage
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